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Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection

Strategic Plan

Fiscal Years 2024-2028

United States Department of Agriculture 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection Program 

Strategy

Fiscal Years 2024 - 2028 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents 

Program Focus ..............................................................................................................................4 

Cross-Cutting Themes...................................................................................................................6 

Authorities and Linkages to Other Plans and Initiatives................................................................6 

Strategic Direction of the Program................................................................................................7 

Goal 1............................................................................................................................................8 

Goal 2..........................................................................................................................................11 

Goal 3..........................................................................................................................................14 

Goal 4..........................................................................................................................................17 

Appendix 1 ....................................................................................................................................1 

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A Message from the Deputy Administrators 

Exotic fruit flies are among the most destructive pests of fruits and vegetables, making the 

Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection (FFED) Program critical to the health and prosperity of 

U.S. agriculture. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) responds to nonnative fruit fly risks with an integrated system that incorporates domestic and offshore 

surveillance, control and eradication activities, analysis of pest risk data, and mitigation measures 

and regulatory actions. This multi-tactical approach is the product of partnerships and close 

collaborations within APHIS and between APHIS and its fruit fly program cooperators and 

stakeholders. 

APHIS, through Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and International Services (IS), presents 

this Strategy to guide the FFED Program’s goals and objectives for the next five years, providing 

a road map for the Agency to ensure American agriculture is protected from the threat of 

invasive fruit flies and measure progress along the way. 

The FFED Program is a complex program with a rich history. Internationally, in FY 2022,

APHIS, through its cooperator Moscamed, produced an average of one billion sterile 

Mediterranean fruit flies (Medflies) per week to mitigate northward movement from Mexico and

Guatemala, and to release in high-risk areas of California and Florida. APHIS continued to assist 

collaborators in Mexico by funding the additional production of 200 million sterile Medflies for 

release in Chiapas, Mexico. Domestically, APHIS and its cooperators released 120 million sterile 

Medflies per week in California and 80 million per week in Florida in FY 2022. To combat 

Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) incursions in Texas, APHIS rearing facilities in Guatemala and Texas 

produced 9 billion sterile Mexflies for release in Texas and Mexico. In New York State, APHIS 

worked with cherry producers to streamline regulatory measures that allow the movement of 

cherries out of the European cherry fruit fly quarantine areas. 

The FFED Program’s success involves a vast amount of cross-cutting work, including the 

application of science and technology, considerations of climate change impacts, close 

collaboration with industry and strategic partners, and public outreach. Employees across the

Agency and cooperators deliver the program’s mission every day, creating opportunities for 

those joining the program to learn from the past and maintain forward momentum. In the end, 

our employees and cooperators are the most valuable resource in safeguarding agriculture against 

one of the world’s most destructive plant pests. 

Sincerely,

Cheryle L. Blakely Dr. Mark L Davidson 

Deputy Administrator Deputy Administrator 

International Services Plant Protection and Quarantine 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

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Program Focus 

The Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection (FFED) program conducts a range of activities to ensure 

that non-native fruit fly species of economic importance do not become established within the 

United States and do not threaten U.S. agricultural production or trade. Two main focuses of 

the FFED program are the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) and Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly). 

APHIS has conducted long-standing, successful domestic and offshore activities, including areawide sterile insect technique (SIT), to target these pests. 

Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly or OFF) and other non-native tephritid species also pose 

serious potential threats to U.S. industry. APHIS and its partners engage in continuous efforts, 

offshore, along our borders, and at U.S. ports of entry, to prevent introduction of these pests. 

Large-scale surveillance trapping networks within the U.S. are designed to detect incursions as 

early as possible. When any of these species are detected within the U.S., the domestic FFED 

program initiates emergency response activities to delimit or eradicate the invading fruit flies. 

European cherry fruit fly (ECFF; Rhagoletis cerasi) invaded the U.S. in 2017 and established 

in western New York. APHIS and partners conduct ongoing operations to slow the spread of 

this pest and protect sensitive agricultural industries in unaffected areas. 

APHIS is concerned with two types of entry risk associated with non-native fruit flies. Each 

type of entry risk is described below. 

• Long-distance movement of infested articles. APHIS protects against the risk of

entry into the United States of infested fruit or vegetables from fruit fly-infested

countries distant from our borders. This also includes infested fruit or vegetables of

non-Canadian origin entering via the Canadian border and the eastward spread from

Hawaii of fruit fly pests established on the islands but not in the continental United

States. The regulated host material may be smuggled or transported from overseas

locations in baggage by passengers who may or may not be aware of the regulations

against the movement of the material.

• Short-distance natural spread or migration. APHIS protects against the risk of fruit

flies flying naturally or being carried on wind northward into the United States via

Mexico and the Caribbean. Mexico is an especially high-risk pathway due to the shared

border and human immigration from fruit fly-infested areas of Central America and

Mexico. Humans may convey fruit fly-infested articles to markets or within baggage to border

towns with the United States, from which fruit flies can easily spread on their own. Some

Caribbean islands have become infested with Medfly, increasing the risk of

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spread into Puerto Rico and Florida . APHIS is also concerned with the spread of fruit 

flies from along the northern border. 

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Cross-Cutting Themes 

Throughout the planning process, several cross-cutting themes emerged that are relevant 

across multiple goals and objectives. We will work to ensure that these themes are 

addressed across the program components. These cross-cutting themes include partnerships, 

technology, outreach, and climate change. 

Technology Develop and 

transfer or adopt new 

technologies into the 

program to improve 

program effectiveness 

and efficiency. 

Outreach Develop and 

implement targeted 

outreach campaigns and 

engage stakeholders in 

discussions on the 

importance of the FFED 

Program. 

Partnerships Leverage 

partnerships within 

APHIS and Federal and 

State partners, foreign 

governments, and 

international 

organizations. 

Climate Change Consider 

changes in pest 

distribution and lifecycles 

due to climate change and 

impacts on program 

operations. 

Fruit Fly 

Eradication and 

Detection 

Authorities and Linkages to Other Plans and Initiatives 

APHIS’ FFED Program carries out mission activities under the authority of the Plant Protection 

Act of 2000 (7 United States Code (U.S.C.) 7701 et seq.). Additionally, APHIS programs 

support activities that directly or indirectly enhance the mission of the APHIS FFED Program. 

These include PPQ’s Greater Caribbean Safeguarding Initiative, IS’ Trade Support Team and 

International Technical and Regulatory Capacity Building, and established cross-cutting working 

groups, such as PPQ’s Fruit Fly Pathway Taskforce. 

This strategy was developed with priorities that align with the USDA Strategic Plan Fiscal 

Years 2022-2026 goals and objectives and the APHIS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2023-2027 

goals and objectives. See Appendix 1 for the specific goals and objectives. 

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Strategic Direction of the Program 

Mission Statement 

The mission of the APHIS Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection (FFED) Program is to protect the 

health and value of American agricultural resources threatened by the establishment of invasive

fruit fly populations. 

Goals and Objectives 

The strategic goals of the APHIS FFED Program consider the entirety of the safeguarding 

continuum from offshore regional approaches and exclusion at ports of entry to domestic 

surveillance, emergency response and mitigation, and eradication or management. Additionally, 

APHIS must continue the innovative and forward-looking approach to enhance facilities and 

technology available to the FFED Program. 

The five-year strategy outlines four priority goals for fruit flies of regulatory significance: 

Goal 1: Strengthen domestic surveillance to support early detection.

Goal 2: Strengthen management and emergency response to ensure timely mitigation.

Goal 3: Strengthen targeted and effective sterile insect technique (SIT) for preventive release 

and eradication programs (assuring rearing facilities are maintained for efficiency and safety).

Goal 4: Strengthen international and import efforts to mitigate against the introduction and 

spread of invasive fruit flies in the United States.

Additional information on each goal, including objectives, tactics to support the objectives, and 

key performance measures, are captured in the next section. 

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Goal 1 

Domestic surveillance in support of early 

detection 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early detection of invasive fruit fly 

populations is critical to ensuring 

successful, timely, and cost-effective 

eradication, reducing the size and duration 

of regulatory quarantines and other 

emergency response activities. In 

cooperation with state partners, the fruit fly 

trapping program ensures the early detection 

and triggering of appropriate response 

actions to fruit fly introductions. Early 

detection is especially critical in urban, 

suburban, and environmentally sensitive 

areas where large-scale application of 

pesticides could be a challenge. 

Adoption of modern detection technologies 

allows APHIS to detect fruit flies more 

effectively and efficiently and adapt to 

changing conditions and program needs. 

Public outreach is an essential element of 

the detection trapping program to ensure 

community members with dooryard fruit fly 

host plants understand their role in reducing 

the risk of incursions and encourage the 

public’s participation in risk reduction and 

response activities. 

Objective 1.1: Ensure implementation of an 

effective nation-wide detection program for 

economically important fruit fly species of 

regulatory significance. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Conduct risk-based evaluations of statelevel program, as needed, to support the

nation-wide detection system at

appropriate trap type and densities, lure

types, and service frequency.

• Increase public awareness of program

goals and processes to encourage

cooperation and acceptance for routine

surveillance operations.

Objective 1.2: Improve the detection 

systems for economically important fruit fly 

species. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Support research and development to

improve traps and lures.

• Support research, development, and

implementation of modern detection

technologies into program operations.

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Key Performance Measures for Goal 1: 

Strengthen domestic surveillance in support of early detection

Measure Target 

Number of detection traps set in all states 

trapping for non-native fruit flies as part of 

routine surveillance 

153,000 (full complement of annual trapping 

in participating states) 

Traps serviced according to program 

protocols 

90% serviced in proper time frame, according 

to trap schedules 

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fdfd 

• improve program effectiveness and

efficiency.

Goal 2 

Strengthen management and emergency 

response to ensure timely mitigation
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The United States must maintain its “fruit Tactics to achieve the objective: 

fly free” status to enable access of many 

U.S. agricultural commodities to 

international markets. Detection of a nonnative tephritid fruit fly species may trigger 

an emergency response. The type and extent 

of response varies depending on the species, 

location, and specific conditions of the 

initial detection. Emergency response 

activities range from delimitation to 

determine whether the individual was a lone 

transient or part of a larger population to 

quarantine where agricultural markets are 

prohibited from moving their fruit until 

eradication is declared. 

The impact of climate change on the 

ecosystem is expected to cause pest 

populations, such as fruit flies, to shift into 

new or expanded habitats. This movement 

may result in increased spread of the fruit 

flies. 

To ensure continued success of fruit fly 

management and eradication efforts, APHIS 

must continue to promote the incorporation 

of a variety of treatment and control tools 

that complement each other and target fruit 

fly threats from multiple angles. New 

population suppression technologies, such as 

male annihilation technique or masstrapping, should be explored for their 

effectiveness at controlling fruit flies, and for 

their cost-effectiveness and operational 

compatibility with SIT and pesticides. 

Objective 2.1: Strengthen emergency 

response programs to respond to fruit fly 

incursions more efficiently. 

• Assess and remedy gaps in emergency

response and develop and implement

control technologies and processes.

• Enhance emergency response

capabilities through development of

training exercises to improve

consistency, speed, and effectiveness of

responses.

• Effectively communicate eradication

program goals and processes to

stakeholders and the public to increase

cooperation and acceptance for

emergency responses.

Objective 2.2: Improve the effectiveness 

and efficiency of mitigation and eradication 

efforts to reduce impacts on growers and 

other stakeholders. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Implement appropriate improvements

after evaluating the effectiveness of

fruit fly commodity treatments and

mitigation measures.

• Implement contingency response plans

after evaluating the economic and

environmental significance, trade

implications, and industry impacts of

novel fruit fly species incursions.

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Key Performance Measures for Goal 2: 

Strengthen management and emergency response to ensure timely 

mitigation 

Measure Target 

Quarantines established Within one (1) week of triggering event 

Emergency response trapping initiated 

Within one (1) week of triggering event 

Economically significant fruit fly infestations 

eradicated Within five (5) lifecycles 

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Goal 3 

Targeted and effective sterile insect technique for 

preventive release and eradication programs 

(assuring rearing facilities are maintained for 

efficiency and saf14 ety)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIT is a species-specific population 

management tool that requires massproduction of target fruit fly species in 

large facilities. APHIS operates two large 

production facilities in Guatemala and 

one in Texas. Additionally, APHIS 

operates several eclosion and release 

facilities (ERFs) for Medfly and Mexfly 

in Guatemala, northern Mexico, Florida, 

and Texas, and collaborates with the 

California Department of Food and 

Agriculture on the funding and operation 

of a Medfly rearing facility in 

Waimanalo, Hawaii, that supplies flies to 

an ERF in California. 

Rearing and release operations are 

extensive and costly. Incorporating 

advanced technologies could lead to 

optimizing production efficiency. The 

FFED Program is seeking to renovate 

and/or replace aging domestic fruit fly 

production and dispersal facilities. 

Continued investments in maintenance 

and enhancement of facilities in 

Guatemala and Mexico will ensure a 

continued supply of high-quality sterile 

insects for eradication and control efforts. 

Objective 3.1: Produce high-quality and 

cost-effective sterile fruit flies for program 

use. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Provide recommendations on

infrastructure improvements to increase

operational efficiency at SIT facilities.

Develop an implementation plan when

appropriate.

• Develop and implement methods to

reduce costs and improve efficiencies to

ensure optimal production of sterile

fruit flies.

• Advance the development of new

and/or improved sterile fruit fly strains.

Objective 3.2: Enhance and refine SIT 

releases to increase effectiveness and 

efficiency. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Develop/revise and implement methods

to reduce costs and improve efficiencies

of sterile fruit fly release to ensure SIT

programs continue to be cost-effective

and meet Agency needs.

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Goal 3 Key Performance Measures

• One (1) billion Medfly pupae produced at El Pino weekly. Target: 95% of weeks

• Total of 175 million male Mexfly pupae produced per week, from all rearing

facilities. Target: 95% of weeks

• Meet or surpass IAEA specifications for minimum flight ability of 65% for Medfly

and Mexfly. Target: 90% of weeks

Key Performance Measures for Goal 3: 

Targeted and effective sterile insect technique for preventive release

and eradication programs (assuring rearing facilities are 

maintained for efficiency and safety)

Measure Target

One (1) billion Medfly pupae produced at El 

Pino weekly 95% of weeks 

Total of 175 million male Mexfly pupae 

produced per week1 95% of weeks 

Meet or surpass IAEA specifications for 

minimum flight ability of 65% for Medfly and 

Mexfly 

90% of weeks 

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From all rearing facilities. 

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Goal 4 

International and import efforts to mitigate 

against the introduction and spread of invasive 

fruit flies in the United States 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APHIS responds to the risk of fruit flies of 

economic significance with an integrated 

system that incorporates both domestic and 

offshore activities. In addition to offshore 

sterile fruit fly production for use in 

preventive release and eradication efforts in

the United States, working with international 

and regional partners to prevent, detect, and 

control fruit flies at origin is a more costeffective strategy than outbreak response. 

Through international cooperative 

agreements, APHIS supports the 

establishment of Medfly-free and reducedprevalence areas offshore, contributing to 

safer trade while protecting American 

agriculture. Capacity building initiatives 

help ensure fruit fly free areas are managed 

according to International Standards and are 

protected from reinfestation. Extension and 

outreach initiatives support greater 

understanding of the economic impacts of 

fruit flies on agricultural production and 

trade, thereby creating motivations for 

international regional cooperation, 

surveillance activities, information sharing, 

and emergency response planning. Outreach 

includes educating travelers on regulations 

aimed at preventing the transport of 

regulated host material from overseas 

locations, while border protection activities 

serve to enforce regulations and detect, 

reduce, and/or deter smuggling. 

APHIS will develop and encourage the use 

of tools that improve the way we capture 

data, share the information, and report

invasive fruit flies and other pests of 

quarantine concern. These tools can inform 

APHIS risk assessment, identify when fruit 

fly levels are high in certain areas or 

seasonally, make more effective use of 

resources to mitigate pathways, and develop 

improved quarantine policy.

Together, these strategies reduce the 

likelihood of these entering the United 

States through commercial trade in

agricultural commodities and noncommercial pathways. 

Objective 4.1: Support efforts to prevent 

the re-establishment of Medfly in

internationally recognized free areas of 

Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Continue to foster collaborative

relationships with Mexico, Guatemala,

and Belize through continued

participation in the leadership of

Moscamed program activities.

• Provide technical support, guidance,

and training for detection, eradication,

and barrier management programs

overseas.

• Integrate new and sustainable

technologies into program operations

that can improve program efficiency.

Objective 4.2: Enhance international 

capacity for detection, emergency planning, 

and response. 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Provide subject matter expertise to

support fruit fly detection and response

planning led by the Greater Caribbean

Safeguarding Initiative Program

through the Caribbean Plant Health

Directors and partner organizations.

• Improve accessibility to our data to

inform risk management decision

making.

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• Identify needs and support capacity

building on fruit fly detection and

control strategies in high-risk offshore

areas.

Objective 4.3: Enhance quarantine 

inspection (including predeparture and 

preclearance), data sharing, and risk 

analysis for improved identification and 

mitigation of fruit fly pathways (means by 

which they spread). 

Tactics to achieve the objective: 

• Develop and implement a risk

assessment tool to direct operational

resources towards improved detection

and mitigation efforts.

• Improve coordination with port risk

committees, which target inspections at 

ports of entry, inform special

operations, and support educational and

outreach activities.

• Use all available data to strengthen 

mitigation measures for commercial 

and non-commercial fruit fly pathways.

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Key Performance Measures for Goal 4: 

International and import efforts to mitigate against the introduction and 

spread of invasive fruit flies in the United States 

Measure Target 

Number of international Medfly detections 

north of the State of Chiapas 0 

Number of training/capacity building 

opportunities for international partners and 

stakeholders 

5 events per year 

Percent increase in Caribbean country 

participation in fruit fly survey and reporting 10% per year 

Percent of traps in MOSCAMED work areas 

serviced on time 90% or above 

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Appendix 1 

USDA Goals & Objectives that align with FFED Strategy 

USDA Goals USDA Objectives 

USDA Goal 1: Combat 1.2: Lead Efforts to Adapt to the Consequences of Climate 

Climate Change to Change in Agriculture and Forestry 

Support America’s 

Working Lands, Natural 

Resources, and 

Communities 

USDA Goal 2: Ensure 2.1: Protect Plant and Animal Health by Minimizing Major 

America’s Agricultural Diseases, Pests, and Wildlife Conflicts 

System is Equitable, 

Resilient, and Prosperous 2.3: Foster Agricultural Innovation 

USDA Goal 3: Foster an 3.3: Expand All Producers’ Access to Global Markets Through 

Equitable and Negotiation and Enforcement of Trade Agreements 

Competitive Marketplace 

for All Agricultural 3.4: Expand International Marketing Opportunities and Build 

Producers Demand in Developing Countries Through Delivery of Technical 

Assistance and Capacity Building 

USDA Goal 5: Expand 5.3: Increase Capacity, Sustainability, and Economic Vitality in 

Opportunities for Rural and Tribal Communities 

Economic Development 

and Improve Quality of 

Life in Rural and Tribal 

Communities 

USDA Goal 6: Attract, 6.1: Foster a Culture of Civil Rights, Diversity, Equity, 

Inspire, and Retain an Inclusion, Accessibility, Transparency, and Accountability 

Engaged and Motivated 

Workforce that’s Proud to 6.2: Establish a Customer-Centric, Inclusive, High-Performing 

Represent USDA Workforce that is Representative of America and the 

Communities We Serve 

6.3: Promote USDA Operational Excellence Through Better Use 

of Technology and Shared Solutions 

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APHIS Goals & Objectives that align with FFED Strategy

APHIS Goals APHIS Objectives 

APHIS Goal 1: Protect Objective 1: Prevent plant and animal diseases and pests from 

agriculture from plant and entering the country 

animal diseases and pests 

Objective 2: Manage plant and animal diseases and pests 

established in the country 

Objective 3: Ensure effective emergency preparedness and 

response 

Objective 5: Ensure the development of safe agricultural 

biotechnology products using a science-based regulatory 

framework 

Objective 6: Ensure timely and accurate diagnostic and other 

laboratory support and services 

APHIS Goal 2: Cultivate 

a talented, diverse, and 

Objective 1: Recruit new talent 

public service focused 

workforce where 

Objective 2: Empower and engage employees 

employees are supported, 

valued, and engaged 

Objective 3: Improve equity and inclusion 

Objective 4: Deliver outstanding services to the public 

Objective 5: Promote safety and wellness 

Objective 6: Create sustainable and cost-effective IT solution 

APHIS Goal 3: Reduce 

the impacts of zoonotic 

and emerging diseases and 

climate change 

Objective 3: Mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change 

APHIS Goal 4: Maintain 

and expand the safe trade 

of agricultural products 

nationally and 

internationally 

Objective 1: Facilitate safe agricultural trade through the effective 

management of sanitary and phytosanitary issues 

Objective 2: Maintain and expand the Agency’s leadership role 

through international standard setting and collaboration 

Objective 3: Create safe export opportunities 

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